Retail sales down

Kiwi shoppers spent less in retail stores in the September quarter than they did earlier this year.

After adjusting for seasonal effects, the value of total retail sales fell 0.8 percent in the September 2012 quarter, compared with the June quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand figures.

The latest quarter's fall was led by three of the largest retail industries, with less money being spent in: supermarket and grocery stores, down 1.6 percent; motor-vehicle and parts retailers, down 1.8 percent; and fuel retailing, down 1.9 percent.

"Shoppers spent less in just over half of the retail industries this quarter," industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno said. "The only industry we saw them spending significantly more in was hardware, building, and garden supplies, which was lifted by higher sales in the Canterbury region."

When price effects are removed, the volume of total retail sales fell 0.4 percent, with shoppers buying less in nine of the 15 retail industries.

When we look at the longer-term picture, the trends for both total sales values and volumes have eased back since the strong growth in 2011.